in an interview this week, president obama tried to explain to george stephanopoulos there are worse things than cancelling white house tours. >> you have been taking heat for the cancellation of white house tours. secret service says it costs $74,000. was cancelling them necessary? >> i have to say this was not a decision that went up to the white house, but what the secret service explained to us was that they're going to have to furlough some folks. what furloughs mean is that people lose a day of work and a day of pay, and the question for them is how deeply do they have to furlough their staff and is it worth it to make sure we have white house tours, if you have families depending on a paycheck, for 5 or 10% reduction in pay. >> joining me to discuss the preoccupation with white house tours, the huffington post sam stein and ryan grim. you both have been in the white house. sam, i want to start with you. i have been in the white house, covered it for a little while. it is not that crazily great. what is the republican obsession with the white house tours? >> i disagree, i think